Pierce County construction

Memorial Day Weekend Travel

State highways across Washington will see typical heavy holiday weekend traffic. WSDOT is providing travel information to help you plan ahead and save time and frustration.

Southbound I-5 Puyallup River Bridge Traffic Switch

Construction on the last piece of the Tacoma/Pierce County HOV program that builds a new southbound I-5 Puyallup River Bridge is now underway. To do this work, some important changes are coming to southbound I-5 in Fife and Tacoma that drivers need to be aware of. In June, three lanes of southbound I-5 will temporarily shift on to the new northbound I-5 Puyallup River Bridge. Drivers who use Port of Tacoma Road to southbound I-5 and the southbound I-5 exit 135 to SR 167 and Portland Avenue will also see temporary changes. This video describes what lanes travelers need to be in so they can reach their destinations.

Traffic revision at Tacoma's South 38th Street

Southbound I-5 and eastbound SR 16 drivers exiting to South 38th Street can turn right or left at the top of the ramp. Traffic at the top of the ramp is now controlled by a temporary traffic signal.

The southbound I-5 ramp to westbound South 38th Street is now closed for reconstruction.

Travelers coming from I-705, SR 7 and Pacific Avenue are now shifted onto one lane across the new southbound I-5 bridge. From there, drivers now have the opportunity to exit to South 38th Street or continue to southbound I-5.

Changes for eastbound SR 16 travelers to southbound I-5 through June

Drivers on eastbound SR 16 going to southbound I-5 need to merge left after Union Avenue to reach southbound I-5.

From there, they will follow the signs to southbound I-5 and travel across newly built HOV lanes that have been temporarily striped as general purpose lanes.

There is no change for eastbound SR 16 drivers going to northbound I-5.

The South Sprague Avenue ramp to southbound I-5 is also closed through June.

The closures allow crews to rebuild the southbound collector/distributor lane that runs between eastbound State Route 16 and southbound I-5, and the South 38th Street ramps. Signed detours will be in place.

I-5 - SR 16 Realignment - HOV Structure and Connections
Highway(s): I-5 Region: OlympicCounty: Pierce Location: Milepost(s) SR 16 0.1 to .7 I-5 130.9 to 133.5Contact: Gaius Sanoy, 253-365-6700Description: This project is the final of a three stage effort to rebuild the Nalley Valley interchange. During the final phase, crews will build ramps that create new HOV lanes between I-5 and SR 16. The project will also realign I-5 to accommodate HOV ramps.Project web page

I-5 - Portland Avenue to Port of Tacoma Road - Southbound HOVHighway(s): I-5 Region: Olympic County: Pierce Location: Milepost(s) 136 to133Contact: Gaius Sanoy, 253-365-6700Description: This project is the final funded HOV project that builds a new southbound I-5 bridge across the Puyallup River and rebuilds the L Street overpass, and widens I-5 to install and complete the HOV system on I-5 in Tacoma.Project web page

Tacoma/Pierce County HOV construction schedule

Starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 30, a segment 20th Street East in Fife a segment of 20th Street East will close near I-5 to all traffic around the clock through July 2019 while crews construct bridge piers for a new southbound I-5 bridge over the Puyallup River. During the closure, travelers will follow a signed detour using Port of Tacoma Road and Pacific Highway East.

Overnight lane and ramp closures:

Tuesday, May 28

Southbound I-5 will be reduced to a single lane from Port of Tacoma Road to McKinley Way. Lane closures will begin at 9 p.m. with all lanes reopening at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

State Route 167/Bay Street on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Northbound I-5 exit to westbound SR 16 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Wednesday, May 29

Southbound I-5 will be reduced to a single lane from Port of Tacoma Road to McKinley Way. Lane closures will begin at 9 p.m. with all lanes reopening at 6 a.m. Thursday.

Northbound I-5 exit to westbound SR 16 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday.

A Street on-ramp to northbound I-5 and SR 7 will close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday.

Thursday, May 30

54th Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday.

Southbound I-5 exit to Port of Tacoma Road will close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday.

Southbound I-5 will be reduced to a single lane from Port of Tacoma Road to McKinley Way. Lane closures will begin at 9 p.m. with all lanes reopening at 6 a.m. Friday.

Northbound I-5 exit to westbound SR 16 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday.

Eastbound SR 16 ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday.

Southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street will close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday.

Friday, May 31

54th Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday.

SR 167/Bay Street on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

Portland Avenue/27th Street on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday.

Southbound I-5 exit to Port of Tacoma Road will close from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday.

Southbound I-5 will be reduced to a single lane from Port of Tacoma Road to McKinley Way. Lane closures will begin at 9 p.m. with all lanes reopening at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Northbound I-5 exit to westbound SR 16 will close from 11:59 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday.

Southbound I-5 exit to South 38th Street will close from 11:59 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday.

Overnight lane closures:

Drivers are advised to be prepared for up to three lanes closed on both directions of I-5 from 54th Avenue East in Fife to South 48th Street in Tacoma, and single lane closures on eastbound State Route 16 near South Sprague Avenue.

All lanes of southbound I-5 are scheduled to reopen by 6 a.m. during the week, and by 8 a.m. on weekends.

All lanes of northbound I-5 are scheduled to reopen by 4 a.m. during the week, and by 7 a.m. on weekends.

Why are these closures necessary?

On I-5 between Port of Tacoma Road and East L Street, contractor crews are rebuilding the center median for a future traffic shift. Crews are removing the East L Street overpass and associated bridge piers.

Contractor crews are building a new alignment for southbound I-5 near the SR 16 interchange. The new alignment makes room for direct connect HOV lanes to be built between the two highways. To do this work, southbound I-5 traffic is shifted onto a temporary alignment. Crews are moving into a new stage of construction that reubilds the eastbound SR 16 collector/distributor lanes to southbound I-5. Crews are refreshing the lane striping as weather allows.

Daytime shoulder closures on both directions of I-5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the project limits.

Overnight single and double lane closures on both directions of I-5 each night from 8:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. the following day.

No two adjacent ramps will be closed overnight simultaneously.

Some work is weather sensitive and could be rescheduled.

Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday May 29

41st Division Drive on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 9:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. each following day.

Berkeley Street on-ramp to northbound I-5 will close from 8:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. each following day.

Thursday, May 30

Southbound I-5 exit to 41st Division Drive will close from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

Monday, June 3 through Wednesday, June 5

Southbound I-5 exit to Berkeley Street will close from 9:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. each following day.

Thursday, June 6

​Berkeley Street on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Friday.

Construction activity on Union Avenue in Tillicum

Crews are now closing a single lane of Union Avenue between Thorne Lane and Spruce Street each day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the work hours, traffic will be controlled by flaggers while crews perform earth work activities associated with the new Thorne Lane overpass.

Right lane closure on northbound SR 7 each day, May 28 to May 30, from 9 a.m. to 12:01 p.m.

Right lane closure on southbound SR 7 each day, May 28 through May 30, from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Work is taking place at the following locations:

milepost 52.12 at Violet Meadows Street

milepost 51.57 at 124th Street S.

milepost 50.41 at 143rd Street S.

milepost 49.19 at 162nd Street S.

milepost 48.08 at 180th Street S.

milepost 47.55 at 188th Street S.

SR 162, Spiketon Creek Bridge - Temporary BridgeHighway: 162 Region: Olympic County: Pierce Location: Milepost(s) 19.6Contact:Tina Werner, 360-704-3270Description: Contractor crews will install a temporary crossing over Spiketon Creek in Buckley late summer 2019. The 82-year-old bridge was closed to traffic in August 2018 after settlement was observed in one of its piers. A detour is in effect using Mundy Loss Road, SR 410 and SR 165. Work Schedule: Construction on the temporary crossing will begin late summer 2019. Drivers will continue to use the detour until the bridge reopens later that fall. Project webpage.

SR 507, N of Rainier to Jct 7 - PavingHighway: SR 507 Region: Olympic County: Pierce, Thurston Location: Milepost(s) 23.70 to 43.57Contact: Lone Moody, 253-365-6750Description: Contractor crews will repave the roadway surface of SR 507 from Rainier in Thurston County to SR 7 near Spanaway in Pierce County. Overnight drivers will see a single lane closure in the southbound direction coltrolled by a pilot car.Work Schedule: Single lane closures each night from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., Tuesday, May 28 through Friday May 31.

City of Tacoma Puyallup River Bridge ReplacementContact: Chris Storey, City of Tacoma Project Manager, 253-573-2484Description: The City of Tacoma is removing and replacing three spans of the bridge west of the Puyallup River.Work Schedule: The bridge closed to all traffic on May 21, 2018. Check the project web page for the latest reopening date.Project web page

I-5 - Port of Tacoma Interchange Improvement ProjectContact: Laurel McQuade, City of Fife, 253-922-9315Description: City of Fife is underway Phase 1 of this project, which brings road, interchange and intersection improvements to the Port of Tacoma.Work Schedule: No ramp closures are scheduled.Project web page.

Highway: SR 162 Region: Olympic County: Pierce Location: Milepost(s) 10.5Contact: Chris Ehresmann, 360-570-6749Description: A contractor working for the City of Orting is installing a water main line across both directions of SR 162 near 178th Avenue East. Daytime drivers will see alternating one-way traffic controlled by flaggers and shoulder closures.Work Schedule: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday from 5/20 to 6/6. No work allowed on May 24 – 27 for Memorial Day weekend.

Slow down and Give 'em a Brake
Drivers are advised to give themselves extra travel time and become familiar with current ramp closures and detour routes on Interstate 5 in Tacoma before heading out the door. If you're driving at night, please slow down in work zones and avoid distracted driving. Help keep our work crews safe. Slow down, pay attention, and stay calm. Work zones aren't there to personally inconvenience you. They're there to improve the roads for everyone. It's a drivers' own interest to be safe in work zones. Statewide, more than 96 percent of people injured in work zones are drivers, their passengers or passing pedestrians.